Pouring rain from Tropical Storm Hanna did not stop the Virginia cross country team from making an impressive showing in its first race of the season Saturday.
The Virginia men won the 8K with a combined team score of 19, leading Duke (36), William & Mary (87), George Mason (108) and Norfolk State (135).
The women followed suit in the 5K run with a team score of 18, defeating William & Mary (37), and George Mason (80).
The Lou Onesty Invitational marked coach Jason Vigilante’s debut with Virginia; the coach came in only a month earlier to take over the program.
“I think the most important thing with our first competition is that we come away closer as a group,” Vigilante said. “We are becoming more connected with the future team goals, and it’s a great start to a long season.”
A long, successful season is certainly a possibility for Virginia cross country, as the Cavaliers’ weekend results demonstrate an ability to take over a race and be a strong force in the ACC as well as the NCAA.
Individually, both the Virginia men and women captured the top four spots. Senior runner Lauretta Dezubay won her first ever collegiate race with a personal best time of 17:55.01.
“It feels pretty good,” Dezubay said. “I’ve never won in college so it is very exciting to open up the season and feel strong doing it.”
Up until the first mile it was a tight race between Virginia runners Dezubay, senior Katie Read and junior Stephanie Garcia. After that first mile, however, Dezubay began to extend her lead alone into the course. The Virginia women persevered right until the end, as sophomore Anica Bilisoly made an impressive sprint right before the finish line to pass George Mason freshman runner Karlyn Lockie and finish 20th overall.
“The ladies were awesome,” Vigilante said. “We took one, two and three, and our freshman Morgane Gay who ran unattached was the fourth girl across the line. Altogether the women had a great day.”
The men’s side proved to be a bit closer as Virginia runners junior Trey Miller, sophomore Emil Heineking, senior Ryan Foster and junior Graham Tribble ran together throughout the race. With the finish line in sight, an all-out sprint took place between Miller and Heineking. Miller crossed the line first at 24:53.80 and Heineking finished second at 24:54.29.
Virginia commanded the pack, with those four runners pushing each other until the very end.
“It was a great opportunity for the guys to work together and to contribute as well as they could,” Vigilante said. “This was a very controlled effort, and I’m certain they’re pleased just like I am.”
This first meet gave Vigilante an opportunity to see where his younger runners could play into the mix this season. He held out three athletes, including senior Andrew Jesien and senior Andy Biladeau — last year’s Lou Onesty Invitational winner — both of whom already have ACC and NCAA experience, and sophomore Ryan Collins. This gave others a chance to see how they could do in a collegiate meet.
The next meet for the cross country teams will be Oct. 4 at the George Mason Invitational.
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